Optimization of Multi-Level Operation in RRAM Arrays for In-Memory Computing Pérez Ávila, Antonio Javier Romero Zaliz, Rocio Celeste Roldán Aranda, Juan Bautista Jiménez Molinos, Francisco RRAM arrays Programming algorithm Multi-level Inter-levels switching In-memory computing Vector-matrix-multiplication Accomplishing multi-level programming in resistive random access memory (RRAM) arrays with truly discrete and linearly spaced conductive levels is crucial in order to implement synaptic weights in hardware-based neuromorphic systems. In this paper, we implemented this feature on 4-kbit 1T1R RRAM arrays by tuning the programming parameters of the multi-level incremental step pulse with verify algorithm (M-ISPVA). The optimized set of parameters was assessed by comparing its results with a non-optimized one. The optimized set of parameters proved to be an effective way to define non-overlapped conductive levels due to the strong reduction of the device-to-device variability as well as of the cycle-to-cycle variability, assessed by inter-levels switching tests and during 1k reset-set cycles. In order to evaluate this improvement in real scenarios, the experimental characteristics of the RRAM devices were captured by means of a behavioral model, which was used to simulate two different neuromorphic systems: an 8×8 vector-matrixmultiplication (VMM) accelerator and a 4-layer feedforward neural network for MNIST database recognition. The results clearly showed that the optimization of the programming parameters improved both the precision of VMM results as well as the recognition accuracy of the neural network in about 6% compared with the use of non-optimized parameters. 2021-05-06T08:31:09Z 2021-05-06T08:31:09Z 2021 info:eu-repo/semantics/article Pérez, E.; Pérez-Ávila, A.J.; Romero-Zaliz, R.; Mahadevaiah, M.K.; Pérez-Bosch Quesada, E.; Roldán, J.B.; Jiménez-Molinos, F.; Wenger, C. Optimization of Multi-Level Operation in RRAM Arrays for In-Memory Computing. Electronics 2021, 10, 1084. https:// doi.org/10.3390/electronics10091084 http://hdl.handle.net/10481/68355 10.3390/electronics10091084 eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/es/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Atribución 3.0 España MDPI